#9: Galaxian (1979, Namco)

So really, who can remember the difference between Galaxian and Galaga without stopping to think about it? Not me. Galaxian, the game we're looking at today, is basically a clone of Space Invaders with nicer graphics and more impressive enemy patterns. More impressive because the enemies actually do something other than move down at you and bob from side to side, that is.

Frankly, in today's world, there's very little reason to play Galaxian instead of the far superior Galaga. But in the magical self-contained world of One Thousand Plus One we're still stuck in 1979. Jimmy Carter is President, Three Mile Island was just decimated by a nuclear meltdown and kids everywhere have begun the long road to obesity as McDonald's introduces the Happy Meal. We don't have Galaga yet. What we have is Space Invaders, essentially a monochrome game that's been out long enough that people are used to it.

So when Galaxian comes out with its pretty colors and enemies that fly at you in unpredictable patterns we're impressed. What's more, it's got animations! Beautiful, beautiful animations. And background music! We haven't seen something like this before. It's new. It's unique. It's now. Keep that in mind as we battle the alien menace.

The version of Galaxian I played was emulated in MAME. If for whatever reason you want to play it yourself, it's readily available with a quick google search.